For many, the world of sex work is shrouded in misconceptions, judgment, and taboo. But for London-based Filipino photographer Ezekiel, it’s an opportunity to challenge the norms and explore a realm of sexuality that has historically been disempowered by the male gaze. In their groundbreaking photo book and exhibition, SMUT: Volume 1, Transgressions, Ezekiel turns the spotlight on women working within the sex industry, and in doing so, offers an alternative narrative that is equal parts empowering, intimate, and artistically captivating.
Ezekiel’s journey began with a fascination for the works of queer and female creators in the adult film industry who have challenged the status quo of mass-produced pornography. Drawing inspiration from these trailblazers, Ezekiel sought to redefine the boundaries between art, erotica, documentary, and fashion through their unique and evocative photographic approach. The result is a visual experience that transcends the stereotypes and stigmas typically associated with the sex industry, presenting the women at its core with dignity and grace that’s both alluring and empowering.
SMUT: Volume 1, Transgressions features a diverse array of subjects, including cam girls, dominatrixes, pole artists, and strippers. Each woman’s story is captured with an intimate, dream-like quality that highlights the beauty and strength inherent in their chosen profession. Ezekiel’s creative process, which often involves collaboration with stylists, set designers, and makeup artists, embraces the natural and authentic expressions of their subjects, allowing them to be both seen and heard.
This groundbreaking collection not only seeks to challenge the preconceived notions surrounding the sex industry but also invites viewers to examine their own perceptions and biases. Through their art, Ezekiel offers a new perspective on sexuality, one that’s defined by the women themselves and not dictated by the male-dominated society in which they operate.
As the first installment in a broader series examining contemporary attitudes towards sexuality, SMUT: Volume 1, Transgressions serves as an invitation to explore the unknown and reevaluate the narratives that have long been imposed upon us. Ezekiel’s work is a testament to the power of art in reshaping perspectives and empowering those whose voices have been silenced. With each captivating image, Ezekiel invites us to join them in embracing the beauty, strength, and resilience of the women at the heart of the sex industry.
To begin with, can you introduce yourself and what gravitated you towards photography?
Hello! I’m Ezekiel, a Filipino photographer and filmmaker based in London. My interest in photography started when I was around 13 years old and my parents handed down their old semi-automatic film camera from the ‘90s. I proceeded to take the camera whenever I hung out with friends like the park or beach and to house parties. After that I decided to pursue photography and filmmaking throughout my school years and in university. My interest in photography derived from my love for films, I always think both mediums kind of go hand-in-hand and I treat every photograph that I take as if it was a film still.
London is a multicultural hub for all things culture and fashion—can you talk about your time spent at London College of Fashion and how the city has influenced you in general?
My time at university was lots of fun. As with any other student I spent a lot of that time going out, socializing and solidifying a creative community who I still collaborate with today. University also allowed me to truly experiment with my practice and gave me the time to make mistakes, as well as figure out my point of view within the art world. I’m really grateful for the time I spent in the institution because it helped create the aesthetic I’m most known for today. London was also very exciting at the time, the city wasn’t ridiculously expensive and this was before the finalization of Brexit; so the city felt more alive.
For those unfamiliar, how would you describe the current aesthetic that you aim for in your work?
Intimate, sun-kissed and sensual with a hint of roughness to it.
Receiving a lot of praise from the photography community, SMUT, Volume I: Transgressions takes an artistic gaze towards attitudes about sexuality and erotica. Can you give us a brief introduction to the zine and what has gone on since then?
SMUT is a photobook series that flows through the boundaries between art, fashion and erotica. Each volume explores a part of modern-day sexuality and culture through a queer perspective. The main inspiration for the book came from my dissertation during my final year of university. I was writing my piece on how lesbian filmmakers were creating a new wave of films that reclaimed how womxn and female sexuality was being represented in mainstream pornography. In turn, it made me question whether my gaze and work could do the same. Since its release SMUT has been featured in i-D, Dazed, and Forbes as well as three exhibitions across London and New York.
I read that you wanted to explore how people perceive women working in the sex industry. What was the process of finding models and muses to work with, and how did it translate when shooting photos for the zine?
Luckily for me, a lot of my friends work within the sex industry so it wasn’t difficult to cast women for the first volume. Having established relationships with the people involved also meant that shooting felt more fluid and natural; this truly helped me capture these women in an intimate and personal light.
Overall, do you think our efforts should be directed towards changing depictions of nudity that don’t emphasize sexuality, or towards changing societal attitudes about women’s bodies?
I think both. Once we change our attitudes towards women’s bodies, which is inherently sexualized throughout our culture – then our attitudes towards sexuality will change too.
How would you like SMUT to affect its viewers? What messages would you most like us to take away with us?
For the first volume, SMUT’s major purpose was to make viewers question their own perception of sex work and make them internally examine any feelings they may have towards it whether it be good or bad. Essentially it was a way to open up the discourse around sexuality and its relation to our modern culture and attitudes. As SMUT progresses, we’ll touch on subjects in regards to gay sexuality, queer and trans sexuality and much more; hopefully shedding light on topics across the vastness of modern sexuality.
What direction do you see your work taking in terms of exploring the intersection of sexuality and identity politics in the future?
I definitely see my work moving towards filmmaking more in the future, I’d love for SMUT to develop into a film studio which focuses on creating diverse and beautifully stylized adult films featuring individuals of all backgrounds, genders and identities.
Published by Malcolm Trapp
